Success Story: Virginia Man's Weight Loss Gives Him New Lease on Life

* Weight loss results may vary based on starting weight and adherence to the meal plan.

Battling a disease you acquired through no fault of your own is difficult enough, but couple that with losing weight and getting fit, and you’re in a battle of a different kind.

Diet-to-Go customer and Virginia resident Arthur “Steve” Block knew that battle all too well. Years ago, a poorly executed blood transfusion left him infected with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that attacks the liver. In some cases, it leads to extreme liver scarring, cirrhosis and even cancer.

He also gained weight over the years, gradually adding on the pounds.

“I had been saying, ‘I need to lose about 20 pounds,’ for the last 20 years,” Steve said. “Unfortunately, I never put those words into action.”

That all changed in October 2012. Steve completed a 48-week course of three antiviral drugs designed to cure him of hepatitis C.

“The treatment worked, but, because of the many side-effects, it left me in very poor physical condition – overweight and extremely fatigued,” Steve said.

It was time to take back his life for good. Steve decided to get serious about losing weight and regaining his energy level. He joined a fitness center and hired personal trainer Sara Black.

When Steve started in February 2013, he weighed 200 pounds. At 5 feet 11 inches, he was overweight. With the help of Diet-to-Go, his trainer and a commitment to fitness, Steve lost over 30 pounds. He now weighs 167.

He also learned about one of the most important elements of maintaining a healthy weight – portion control.

“My problem was that, although I was for the most part eating ‘health foods,’ I was overfilling my plate, and my parents had always taught me to ‘clean my plate,’” Steve said.

Steve said Diet-to-Go meals taught him the right amount of food to put on his plate.

“I didn’t have to try to figure out how many calories I was consuming with each meal,” he said.

Steve said he especially liked the convenience of picking up his meals fresh at the fitness center he exercised at five days a week.

“The meals taste good and there is a lot of variety too,” Steve said.

He also credits deciding on a plan and putting it into action as what worked for him.

“Some days I really have to force myself to go to the gym,” said Steve. “But even on vacation, once in Canada and again in Key Largo, I spent time in the hotel fitness center.”